Denim certainly had its moment this year. From Katseye’s viral ‘Better in Denim’ Gap ad to Kendrick Lamar’s bootcut Celine jeans that appeared on the Super Bowl halftime show to Bhavitha Mandava opening Chanel’s Métiers d’Art 25/26 in a simple quarter zip and light blue denim—the fabric has become less of a neutral base that lives in our wardrobe, but a statement piece telling a story. Shapes got wider, colours got darker, and the material has become a canvas for experimentation. As a piece of clothing, it’s an easy closet staple, made to be dressed up or down. Which is why denim isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. For 2026, expect to see even more denim, now diversified into multiple trending silhouettes. We round up what to expect from this hard-wearing fabric in the next year.
Dark Wash
Deep, rich colours are back in! Expect to see jeans in darker washes, think navy or black. Almost looking like trousers, they’re sleek, polished, and definitely lend themselves to that ‘old money aesthetic’.
Cigarette Jeans
Possibly a remnant of Stranger Things’ 80s aesthetic. Cigarette jeans are almost like skinny jeans but without the tightness. They’re straight with a slim fit, but loose enough for movement. As we pull from more retro styles, it’s no wonder this vintage silhouette comes back to the fashion-forward consciousness. As a hybrid between straight and skinny jeans, we can easily see this being styled in business casual fits.
Flare Jeans
Another retro style back to the contemporary crowd, this one probably got its boost in popularity this year thanks to Kendrick Lamar. Sporting a flared bootcut jean for his Super Bowl halftime show, the silhouette has been appearing on feeds ever since. A great cut to create that hourglass shape as well as divert attention to the shoes, we can flares in 2026 paired with pointed toes, elongating the leg and creating a sharp look.
Barrel Leg Jeans
When everyone pivoted from skinny jeans to wide, baggy jeans back in 2020, no one knew what the evolution might look like. Well, that evolution is barrel leg jeans, arched at the side, emphasising wideness. It’s a trend mostly sported by men, but plenty of women have been styling softer iterations of the jean where the arch isn’t as pronounced, with loose shirts and sweaters juxtaposed with a slick back bun.
Cuffed Jeans
Maybe it’s the winter weather, or maybe it is another evolution of the wide-legged jean, but cuffed jeans have become a common way to style the fabric. And these cuffs aren’t subtle either; they’re wide, where the contrast is apparent. It’s a fun way to add detail to a regular pair of jeans while once again diverting attention to the shoes, whether that’s ballet flats, kitten heels, or boots.
Textured Denim
Over the past year, denim itself has become the accessory to play with, the statement piece instead of the base to curate an outfit over. Designers have been playing around with the fabric, creating patchwork pieces, adding fringes, embroidery, and crystal detailing, of which the latter two were frequently spotted at this year’s Sole DXB. Turning the fabric into a canvas for creativity, we’re sure that these not-so-ordinary pants will continue to bring the sparkle and creativity for 2026.
